The NFL playoffs are on nearly every sports buff's mind, but baseball begins in just a few weeks. Pitchers and catchers are due to report in early February, with the first game of spring training less than a month away.
So it begs the question: Where are the A’s in their move to Nevada?
Since last year, the former Oakland-based team has been playing in Sacramento while awaiting completion of its new home on the Las Vegas Strip. The team finished fourth in its division last year, improving its record from the season before, and significantly from 2023’s abysmal 112-loss year. During the offseason, the A's have made moves that might begin to address concerns that ownership isn't investing enough to put together a winning team.
Still, skepticism remains, especially among A's owner, John Fisher, about the future of the planned Bally's casino project surrounding the new stadium and the stadium's completion.
On the latter point, skepticism is diminishing as construction moves along, said Alan Snell of LVSportsBiz.com. "They're seven months into a 31-month stadium build, and you begin to see the outline of the stadium. And there's some main concourse and suite areas [where] you can just begin to see the outline. You can see home plate on the field. ... So things are on schedule."
The A's recently extended the contract of star left-fielder Tyler Soderstrom. Three weeks ago, they agreed to terms with catcher Shea Langeliers. The contract lengths for those players and others who have signed or had their contracts extended seem to suggest to Snel that the A's are building a team for Las Vegas.
"I think the strategy is to create momentum, have some players that people here in Las Vegas can emotionally attach to and identify with, and have a ... forward-looking trajectory into the Las Vegas move when the team takes over the stadium in a few years." Snel added that the new stadium itself seems to be a lure for negotiating with players.
A few bumps remain for the A's. They recently lost their bid to trademark the Las Vegas Athletics team name, though they're expected to get approval closer to their move in 2028. And aside from $350 million in public funds and a small contribution from food vendor Aramark, Fisher appears to be the sole investor for the $2 billion stadium, despite efforts to attract other partners.
"Fisher has submitted bank forms to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board that is supposedly verifying his ability to pay the $2 billion stadium construction bill," Snel said. "So the stadium board believes he can do it, and so far, it looks like people are getting paid."
